The general election was called to resolve political instability in Sri Lanka has not entirely solved the problem as no party has got a majority.
No party managed to cross the magic number of 113 needed to enjoy an absolute majority in the 225-member legislature, pointing to either a minority government or a shaky coalition.
After the results were released on Sunday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga's party emerged as the single largest group with 105 seats in the 225-member Sri Lankan parliament.
A minority government would only complicate the faltering peace process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a bone of contention between Kumaratunga and her arch rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Friday's election was fought mainly over the handling of the peace process.
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Kumaratunga's Freedom Alliance won 4.22 million votes, or 45.60 per cent of the total votes polled, in an election held under a system of proportional representation. Wickremesinghe's UNP got 3.5 million votes or 37.83 per cent of the votes.
Nine seats went to a party of all-clergy Buddhist monks while a Muslim party bagged five seats and two Tamil parties got one each.
The official results were announced after election officials decided not to conduct a re-poll in two districts where irregularities were alleged.
